Skip to content

History Of Samplers

May 9, 2025 · 43 min

Show notes

Oli Freke talks us through the history of samplers, from the introduction of the Mellotron in 1963, through to current day sampling software, while highlighting the golden era of sampling from the late 80s to early 90s.

Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
01:08 - The Mellotron
02:28 - Pre-Digital Samplers
03:18 - Pierre Schaeffer And The Phonogène
04:03 - Peter Zinovieff And EMS
05:44 - The University Of Illinois' PLATO
06:08 - Harry Mendell's Melodian
07:21 - Wendel Sampling Computer
08:29 - The Fairlight and Fairlight II
15:20 - The Fundamentals Of Sampling
19:43 - The Synclavier
23:47 - Digital Delay Lines (DDLs)
26:04 - EMU Systems Emulator
31:01 - Ensoniq Mirage
32:39 - Other Notable 1980s Releases
34:46 - Akai S1000 and Roland S Series
38:14 - Sampling And Legal Issues
41:16 - Modern Day Sampling

Oli Freke Biog
Oli Freke is a London based musician, artist and author who has had a life-long passion for electronic instruments, synthesizers and electronic music. Currently working for the BBC, he has previously enjoyed success with electro band Cassette Electrik supporting the Human League on tour, written music for television and produced dance music since the 1990s.

His Synth Evolution range of posters, celebrating the synthesizer and electronic music culture, launched in 2017 and led to the definitive, hand-illustrated book, ‘Synth Evolution: From Analogue to Digital (and Back)’, featuring every commercial synth of the 20th century.

www.synthevolution.net
www.linktr.ee/olifreke

Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts

All episodes of Electronic Music

Settings

Display

Language

Decides which stations you see first on the home page.

History

Recently played stations and episodes and your latest searches are only stored in this browser.

Notifications

A short notice when a podcast you follow has a new episode. Turn off single podcasts with the bell on their page.

Account

Save favorites – in the app and on the website.

Keyboard shortcuts

/
Open search
Space
Play or pause
← →
In the player: back 15 s, forward 30 s (episodes) · in a row: next tile
↑ ↓
In a row: target within the tile
Home / End
In a row: first or last tile
Esc
Close window or menu
?
This overview
Now playing

Go to station page

Play next

    Add episodes with “Play next” – they play after the current episode.